Developing a functional wardrobe takes more thought and effort than many people understand. Sure, you can buy a plethora of new apparel, but if there is no strategy behind your purchases, you’ll end up in a situation wherein you have a closet full of clothes you can’t wear.

If that’s not a waste of time and money, we don’t know what is.

In this article, you’ll discover wardrobe-building essentials to ensure that each purchase you make is enhancing your wardrobe, not merely adding to it. In fact, by minding these tips from Henry A. Davidsen, you can begin to transform your wardrobe into a functional and stylish extension of yourself!

1. Make Sure It Fits

First and foremost: if you haven’t explored the world of made-to-measure and custom clothing, we invite you to contact us and get started. You’ll never have anything fit so well in your life.

The principal rule to follow when shopping for long-term apparel is to always, always try things on before you buy. Each designer, brand, and article of clothing has a distinct fit. If you guess your size and purchase an item without checking the fit, you may end up purchasing an ill-fitting garment you’ll never want to wear.

If nothing else, be mindful of return policies when shopping off the rack.

2. Know Which Colors You Like to Wear

When an article of clothing has some great colors in it, that doesn’t necessarily mean that those are great colors for you. Everyone falls victim to a garment that looks great but ultimately hangs in the closet for years without being worn. If you know which colors you’ll wear and which you won’t, you can avoid wasting money on unworn apparel.

3. Shop for Style, Not Fashion

Style and fashion are two different things. Style is an extension of one’s personality through the clothing he wears, whereas fashion is simply whatever’s popular at a given time, based on the whim of a random designer.

One is permanent, while the other is fleeting.

A common mistake when expanding a wardrobe is getting enthralled with the latest fashion trends. Although mixed patterns may be trending in 2018, not everything you wear will involve mixed patterns. You have a unique style that works for you, so build upon that instead of trying to be someone you’re not.

4. Invest in High-Quality Pieces You’ll Wear Often

As with so many things in life, with clothing, you get what you pay for. High-quality pieces will often cost more than their less-expensive counterparts, but they’ll pay dividends in terms of comfort, performance, and longevity.

Over time, the good stuff is actually less expensive when you break it down by cost per wear. When you factor in the cost of your time, it becomes a no-brainer.

If you spend the majority of your days in a suit, don’t hesitate to splurge on a tailor-made jacket and custom dress shirts. It is critical that your everyday attire be well-fitting and high-quality. While you might purchase a new outfit for a special event, the clothing you wear regularly should not be a purchase, but rather an investment.

5. Consider Your Lifestyle

When shopping for pieces to add to your wardrobe, consider when and where you’ll be sporting each item. Be mindful of how often you’ll need to dress in business casual or black tie optional, for example, and shop accordingly. If you head to country club every other weekend, your wardrobe should reflect that and give you enough variety to not repeat outfits.

Remember these tips from Henry A. Davidsen when building your wardrobe. Shop to fit your style. Take risks, but understand what you look good in and what you won’t ever wear. Try on everything before you buy, because anything ill-fitting is a waste of money. Never be afraid to spend for quality, and be mindful of your lifestyle to create a wardrobe that is both stylish and functional!

As always, we cordially invite you to reach out to us at 215-310-0219 or visit our contact page to schedule a custom clothing consultation.

About the Author

A former full-time Image Consultant with Henry A. Davidsen, Mike currently works with the company on a project basis and is on the social media team. He creates content for various social networks and the company's blog. A menswear fanatic, Mike lives to get dressed every morning and loves to educate men on the ins and outs of sartorial know-how. When not expounding on the wonders of half-Windsor knots, he plays bass guitar and sings in the Newspaper Taxis, a Beatles cover band.